MSc Psychology

at University of Bolton

Our psychology department's overall teaching and learning strategy is student-centred. We use a blended approach involving face-to-face sessions, sometimes one-to-one, and online learning. We promote active learning through workshops, seminars and tutorials, self-directed and guided study, lectures, IT sessions and video viewing and analysis. The University’s e-learning portal Moodle will support your online learning.
 

We'll expect you to undertake considerable independent learning, including independent literature searching, reading, completing work for seminars, and preparing for workshops, presentations or group discussions. In addition to the taught components, some modules will have online resources and activities to complete.
 

Assessment serves several functions with the obvious and primary function being to evaluate your achievement of the stated learning outcomes. However, the assessment also serves to help you organise and develop your learning. Feedback from the assessment can help you develop your skills and understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses. We may require you to complete reports, essays, presentations, literature reviews, reviews of journal articles, write up laboratory tasks, and complete short question and answer tasks (related to statistical analysis), reflective journals and case studies.
 

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Psychological and Social Research: Review, Evaluation and Design
• Quantitative Inquiry 1
• Qualitative Inquiry
• Quantitative Inquiry 2
• Advanced Social and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Social Neuroscience Techniques
• Social Neuroscience Laboratory Practical
• Foundations of Positive Psychology
• Positive Psychology in Practice
• Critical Positive Psychology
• Psychology Dissertation
• Current Debates in Psychology
   

• You should have an upper second class (2.1) honours degree (or above) in Psychology, which is accredited by the British Psychology Society for Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• If you have a lower second class (2:2) honours degree in Psychology, you may be accepted to the programme following a successful interview. We may also ask you to provide a portfolio of your work as part of the application process.
• We'll also be happy to consider your application if you're a graduate of an alternative but related degree (for instance, nursing or health and social care). We'll require you to attend an interview, and we may ask you to provide a portfolio of your work to help determine your suitability for the course.
• Relevant work experience can also provide an advantage.
• We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
• This course does not confer Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) – if you're seeking to achieve GBR, please consider applying for our MSc Psychology (Conversion) programme.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). 

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £12,950

The University of Bolton's MSc Psychology is for psychology graduates who wish to develop their knowledge to an advanced level or are particularly interested in enhancing their skill set in preparation for a career in psychology. By studying this course, you can develop an advanced critical appreciation of contemporary methods, theories and issues in psychology, and build upon and enhance the skills you acquired from your undergraduate studies.
 

We'll support you as you further develop your skills in research and analysis and apply them to a substantial piece of independent research. By successfully completing our course, you'll develop enhanced academic skills and the ability to formulate arguments supported by relevant evidence. You'll also possess greater problem-solving skills, interpersonal awareness, communication, teamwork, and IT and data handling skills.